If you haven't read part 1 yet, please go do so. 

Let's start with a couple relevant definitions for the word "accomplished".

From Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary:

2. Well endowed with good qualities and manners; complete in acquirements; having a finished education.

From The American Heritage Desk Dictionary (1981):

2. Skilled; expert  3. Sophisticated; polished 

In part 1, I wrote: "If they simply mean she does her best to be graceful, modest, gentle, and generally act and carry herself in a ladylike manner, then I think that is commendable."

I would like to see more ladylike girls (myself included) nowadays. It would set us apart from girls who are flirtatious or who try to behave as boys, etc. But we shouldn't be set apart for the wrong reasons (i.e. to puff ourselves up).  We should do so for God's glory, not our own.  That is the same reason we should strive to be accomplished.  In America today, you can find thousands of girls who act just like everyone else.  Live just like the world.  Is that how you want to be?  I want to be different.  Not only will it be so much better, it may give us the opportunity to share why we choose to be different from the world.  There are so many other benefits as well but let's move on to our other question for right now.   

So what does it really mean to be accomplished? 

We must start with character.  You can be the most talented, skilled person in the world and still be a mean, unpleasant person.  For example, in Pride and Prejudice, most people considered Miss Bingley "accomplished" but I couldn't call her that.  Sure, she may have been skilled but her character was mean and manipulative.  So we must start with the heart and character of a person. 

First of all:

"Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."  Matthew 22:37-38

Many of us know about the fruits of the Spirit but it can be so hard to put them into action daily. 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

Also, some specific instruction to younger women:

"Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the Word of God." Titus 2:4-5

People may think this applies to married young women...which it does.  But there is also a lot of application for us, unmarried young ladies.  After all, if we do not learn to love and submit to our dad (and mom), how will we ever love and be subject to our husbands?  Whether or not we ever marry, we are already commanded to obey and honor our parents (Ephesians 6:1-3).  Moving on, we see, once again, that we should be self-controlled and kind.  We are to be pure.  Finally, we are to be busy at home.  The home is not supposed to be a place of boredom or idleness but a place of industry.  It is also in the home where character is first formed.  There are so many wonderful things that can be done in the home!

Perhaps now we should all go and ponder our character before moving on.  It's too easy to skim right over all the most important things and go right to the outward accomplishments...which are normally easier to accomplish.  So please take a break before coming back and reading the rest.  Go do something nice for someone.  I'm going to go take a break, too. 

*3 days later*  Let's move on!

One of the definitions for accomplished is skilled; expert.  Have you ever heard someone say, "That person is an accomplished pianist?"  It shows that the person they're talking about is skilled/an expert in the area of piano playing.  What should we aim to be skilled in?  (Note: This first one applies especially to young ladies :)).

We should aim to be skilled keepers at home.  In other words, we should be competent in the art of homemaking.  Everything from raising and teaching children to cooking to cleaning and so much more we should know how to do.  I am actually compiling a list of things I need to learn how to do well in order to be a capable keeper at home.  Once again, I would like to note that character is much more important than being able to meticulously clean a house.  How you live will have more influence in the atmosphere of your home than anything else.

We should also aim to become more and more skilled in the gifts God has given us.  No matter how talented you are, there is always room to improve.  We should be continually honing our particular talents.  If you are good at something, all the more reason to study hard at it!  Do not coast.  Do not become complacent. 

And last but not least, we should aim to have a good, thorough education that leaves us truly skilled and equipped.  Or as Noah Webster put it "a finished education."  By this I do not refer simply to classroom learning though that has its place. 

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." Proverbs 1:7a

Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary defines education in this way:

The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.      

I will not elaborate here since I already wrote a post in January regarding education.  You can read it here: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/lifeoffaith/649198/

The last post in this three part series will be: How do we become accomplished?